Hungary–Sri Lanka relations

Hungary-Sri Lanka relations

Sri Lanka	Hungary

Hungary–Sri Lanka relations are foreign relations between Hungary and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has an embassy in Vienna, Austria that is accredited to Hungary^[1] and has a consul in Budapest^[2] Hungary maintains a consulate in Colombo, Sri Lanka.^[3] Hungary contributed to relief after the 2004 Tsunami, and has since stepped up aid to Sri Lanka.^[4]

History

Hungary–Sri Lanka diplomatic relations started on February 15, 1959 at the ambassadorial level. Razik Zarook was the first ambassador.^[5] T. B. Ilangaratne, the Sri Lankan Minister for Foreign Affairs was the first prestigious person who visited Hungary from Sri Lanka, in 1964. Since then the two countries have exchanged occasional high-level visits. In 1975 the two countries signed an Agreement on Technological and Scientific Cooperation, and in 1979 they signed a Cultural Cooperation Agreement.^[4]

In June 2004, the Sri Lankan Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said that trade exchanges and the bilateral agreements between Sri Lanka and Hungary were beneficial to both countries, and vowed to establish a sustainable link with Hungary.^[6]

In November 2006, officials of the Ministry of Finance visited Hungary. The meeting resulted in finalizing of a Framework Agreement for Financial Cooperation with Hungary, worth Euro51 million.^[7] The agreement was signed in February 2007.^[8][9] In August 2008 Dr. Géza Pálmai, Ambassador for Hungary, visited Sri Lanka and met with the President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. They discussed enhanced bilateral relations, investment by Hungarian companies in Sri Lanka, improvements in trade and tourism and Hungarian investment in infrastructure development projects in Sri Lanka.^[10]

Between 20–22 April 2009 a delegation of Sri Lankan business people met with their counterparts in Budapest to discuss trade opportunities.^[11] Addressing the meeting, Export Development and International Trade Minister G.L. Peiris said the advent of a stable peace removes the main impediment to economic development and makes available a wide range of opportunities for trade and investment. In reply, Gyorgy Kapati of the Chamber of Commerce of Hungary said that the Hungarian business sector considers the developing situation in Sri Lanka particularly conducive to investment^[8]

Development aid

Hungary has contributed to relief and reconstruction efforts after the tsunami in Sri Lanka and other countries.^[12] This included a vital contribution of wheat flour valued at US $55,000.^[13] Hungary also sent doctors and medicine to assist the survivors.^[14] Private donations contributed to construction of a 100-housing unit village.^[15]

The Hungarian government plans to invest 2,850 million rupees (about USD $24 million) for construction and supply of sophisticated machinery for a sea sand plant in Kalutara, Sri Lanka.^[16]

See also

• Foreign relations of Hungary
• Foreign relations of Sri Lanka
• Hungarian diaspora

References

v t e Foreign relations of Hungary Americas Mexico United States Uruguay Asia Bangladesh Japan Malaysia North Korea Pakistan South Korea Sri Lanka Europe Armenia Austria Bulgaria Croatia Denmark France Germany Greece Kosovo Poland Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Sweden Missions Diplomatic missions of / in Hungary Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

v t e Foreign relations of Sri Lanka Africa Kenya South Africa Asia Bangladesh China India Indonesia Iran Japan Malaysia Maldives Pakistan Philippines Europe Denmark Estonia Hungary Russia Switzerland Holy See North America Cuba United States Oceania Australia Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minister) Diplomatic missions of / in Sri Lanka List of heads of missions from Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Overseas Service Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies International organizations United Nations G77 IAEA IMF ISO Commonwealth of Nations NAM SAARC UNESCO WHO WTO SAEU BIMSTEC External Affairs Ministry website